WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va – New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas returned to practice on a rainy Monday morning after missing Friday’s win against the St. Louis Rams, and sitting out of practice Sunday.

Thomas participated in walkthroughs, but did at times seem to be moving gingerly.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees was not dressed out for the sixth consecutive day of practice. Brees injured his left oblique on Aug. 2 and has not participated since.

Brees looks close to a return, though, and continues to rehab with strength coaches and teammates on the side. He did some light running and agility drills with injured wide receiver Kenny Stills and cornerback Champ Bailey.

Brees has clearly upped the pace of his workouts while adding considerable velocity on his throws to Stills.

Saints head coach Sean Payton said he has no intention of rushing either player back before they’re 100 percent.

“I really mean it, we’ll go day-to-day,” Payton said. “(Brees is) making progress and yet I just want to make sure it’s something we don’t hurry back. Same way with Kenny (Stills), we’ll just be smart day-to-day.”

Stills has been out since re-injuring his quad in the first practice.

Bailey, meanwhile, has missed nearly two weeks with an unspecified injury, opening the door for Patrick Robinson, who has been working with the first unit and looked to be in line to start opposite Keenan Lewis.

However, Robinson did not practice and joined Bailey on the stationary bike when the Monday morning session began.